Thursday, October 05, 2006

TheUKpaper

News International has ambitions well beyond London by the looks of it.

Having launched thelondonpaper, News International could also be looking expanding the freesheet nationally.

It has registered a bunch of internet domain names for cities across the UK including .co.uk and .com domain names for thebirminghampaper, thebristolpaper, theleedspaper, theliverpoolpaper, themanchesterpaper, thehullpaper, theyorkpaper.

Not just in England, but Scotland and Wales as well, with the domain names registered for theedinburghpaper, and theglasgowpaper and thecardiffpaper.

This would see it challenge the likes of Guardian Media Group in Manchester, which publishers the Metro (with Associated) and the Manchester Evening News.

It could also spell trouble for Johnston Press and Trinity Mirror, which publish a number of evening papers.

A free evening paper could spell the end for many of those paid for titles. Even more so if like a lot of the Metros News International takes most of the content from its London title.

If it does go down that route it raises the possibility of Associated following it.

A spokesman told The Guardian: "We registered several names when we launched thelondonpaper as a matter of course but we are 100% focused on London for the foreseeable future."